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 UNITEDMINE WORKERSJOURNAL

VOL. XXXI No.2INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, JANUARY 15, 1920$ 1.00 PER YEAR

Coal Miners Are Americans By JOHN L. LEWIS, Acting President THE action of the Columbus convention means that the United Mine Workers of America is an American institution that believes in and upholds American ideals. While the strike was on we were branded as un-American and as brutal men seeking to freeze women and children. The public mind was inflamed by such false charges and the coal miners were discredited by public sentiment. But I believe that the American pub- Be now understands the coal miner better than it did a few weeks ago. It has learned that he is not the brute that he was pictured, but that he is a good American citizen-a better American citizen, in fact, than those who would traduce him. All we ask is a square deal and a chance to live as American workingmen should live. I believe the American public is willing that we should have a square deal. It shall be our purpose to lay before the President's commission the facts upon which we base our demand for better conditions, and we have a right to demand that the pledge of the President that full justice will be done the coal miner be carried out. We could not and do not ask for more than justice.

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA